Weekend Outlook: Pride Nights, Fundraisers, Fairs, and More
Berkshire County is hosting a variety of events this hot sunny weekend including pride nights, fundraising events, museum activities, and more.
North Adams PRIDE Night
Friday, June 24, Mass MoCA
North Adams holds second annual Pride night this Friday at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art to recognize the 1969 Stonewall riots and raise awareness of equality for the LGBTQIA-plus community.
The event will be held at 6 p.m. in courtyard A at Mass MoCA and will be free and open to the public. There will be performances by Boxxa Vine and local drag queens Vuronika Baked and Jackie Leggs and attendees can purchase cocktails and food from Chingon Taco Truck and Door Prize.
"Pride Month is more than just hanging inclusive flags, it's about bringing the North Adams community and businesses together for a new tradition … to shine a light on the LGBTQIA groups in the region," Mass MoCA quoted The North Adams Pride Committee.
The North Adams Pride Committee organized the event that was made possible thanks to Mass MoCA, North Adams Chamber of Commerce, Berkshire Stonewall Community Coalition, Bright Ideas Brewing, Bear & Bee Bookstore, Common Folk Artist Collective, Savvy Hive, Terra Vintage, Chingón Taco Truck, Door Prize, Full Well Farm, and The Plant Connector.
For more information visit the Mass MoCA website.
LGBTQIA-Plus Community Picnic
Saturday, June 25, Pittsfield State Forest
Berkshire Rainbow Seniors and Berkshire Pride will be concluding pride month with a community picnic at the Pittsfield State Forest Lodge where the LGBTQIA-plus community and allies are encouraged to join them for an intergenerational focus.
Multiple community organizations focused on youth have been invited to participate and a boxed lunch will be provided.
More information here.
Living Ink: The Art of Tattoos.
Saturday, June 25, Berkshire Museum
Curator of Japanese Art at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and author of the book "Tattoos in Japanese Prints" Sarah E. Thompson will be speaking at the opening celebration of the "Living Ink: The Art of Tattoos" exhibit this Saturday.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and Thompson's presentation begins at 7:30 p.m. Participants will get a chance to get a temporary tattoo; there will be a cash bar and hors d'oeuvres available.
General admission is $25 or $20 for members. Each ticket comes with drink ticket.
More information here.
Bidwell Country Fair
Saturday, June 25, Bidwell House Museum
After a two-year hiatus, Bidwell House Museum is bringing back its Country Fair in celebration of the history of Monterey.
The fair runs from noon to 4; although the house is not open for tours, there will be a variety of activities during this community event.
Participants can view demonstrations including stone carving, timber framing and sawing, and blacksmithing while listening to music by Oakes and Smith and Paula Bradley.
Various family-friendly activities will include wool spinning, crafts, a scavenger hunt and more.
Flour Bin Catering and SoCo Ice Cream will be on-site selling food and free lemonade and watermelon.
More information here.
Firefly Frolic
Friday, June 24, Mount Greylock Visitor Center
Mount Greylock State Reservation hosts its annual Firefly Frolic this Friday in an effort to inspire children to respect nature and handle living creatures with care.
The reservation will kick off the event with a game designed to help instill these values in the Mount Greylock Visitor Center at 8:30 p.m.
This free program is open to all ages but children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration for the game is free and is first-come, first serve.
Up to 35 can participate in the game and indoor program that will teach safe "catch and release" methods for approximately 45 minutes and take a short walk in the lower fields to see nature's light show.
The reservation requests that individuals dress appropriately for the evening and to bring a flashlight or blue light headlamp. If you choose to wear bug spray do not handle any of the fireflies because it may harm them.
Participants can bring a small butterfly net but glass jars or any collection devices are prohibited.
For more information about the program call the Visitor Center at 413-499-4262.
Relay For Life of Berkshire County
Saturday, June 25, Guardian Life
The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life, held to honor and remember loved ones who struggled with cancer and raise funds for research and support, returns this year at Guardian Life's campus at 700 South St., Pittsfield.
The event starts at 10 a.m. and participants will have the opportunity to cheer for local survivors in the first lap of the day.
Local entertainers will help keep the energy high and, as it gets dark, luminaria bags that surround the track will be lighted.
The event will conclude at 10 p.m. For more information visit the Relay For Life website.
Burgers, Baseball and a Band
Saturday, June 25, Flat Burger Society
The Flat Burger Society, located at 75 North St., is hosting a fundraiser for the Wahconah Park Stadium and field supplies in collaboration with Berkshire Roots.
The event will start at 8 p.m. and will consist of live music from the Mid Life Crisis band and some Berkshire Roots staff chipping in to sing a few songs.
Space is limited and all attendees, over the age of 21, will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a gift card to Flat Burger, a special Berkshire Roots goodie bag, and two sets of tickets to the Pittsfield Suns' remaining home games.
Tickets cost $15 for advanced purchasing and $20 at the door. RSVP for the event here and more information here.
Farmers' Markets
Lenox Farmer's Market
80 Church St., Lenox
The market will be open in its new location 80 Church Street, formerly the Cafe Lucia, this Friday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Participants can pursue local vendors while enjoying food and listening to music.
For more information visit Lenox's Chamber of Commerce page.
Sheffield Farmers' Market
125 Main Street, Sheffield
The Sheffield Farmers' Market is open this Friday from 3 until 6 p.m. at First Congregational Church located at 125 Main St.
The market will feature healthy food and products from a variety of local vendors in an attempt to nourish the community by protecting "local small farms, land, bees, and economy."
For more information visit the market's website.
Pittsfield Farmers Market
The Common, Pittsfield
Powered by Roots Rising, the market is open every Saturday rain or shine from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. through Oct. 8.
Each week the market will have fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables, along with meat, eggs, cheese, baked goods by local vendors. Participants can shop for flowers, and artisan goods while listening to music and participate in family activities.
For more information, visit the website.
Great Barrington Farmers Market
18 Church St., Great Barrington
The market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. until the end of October.
Every week there will be locally grown food, flowers, and plants along with other local vendors.
For more information, visit their website.
Williamstown Farmers Market
Spring Street, Williamstown
The market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. into October in the parking lot at the bottom of Spring Street.
This year the market will feature returning and new vendors, including a fish monger, knife sharpener, baker, chef, and much more.
More information here.
North Adams Farmers Market
St. Anthony Municipal Parking Lot
The market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. into October in the parking lot across from St. Elizabeth's Church.
Lee Farmers Market
Gateway to the Berkshires (Exit 2 on the Mass Pike)
This market is open every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. They accept SNAP/HIP, Senior Coupons, WIC coupons, and offer market match.
More information here.
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